Would you be happy to be weighed before boarding a flight?

The mention of “overweight luggage” can trigger a flurry of stress and embarrassment among travellers.

However, one airline is taking this concern to a new level by introducing a practice where passengers are invited to step on scales.

This controversial initiative originates from Finnair, a Finnish airline, which recently announced that it has started “weighing” passengers departing from Helsinki. The airline aims to assess the combined weight of passengers and their carry-on luggage to enhance the accuracy of weight calculations prior to takeoff.

According to spokeswoman Kaisa Tikkanen, over 500 volunteer customers have already participated in these weigh-ins.

In a statement, Finnair explained that airlines typically calculate the weight of the aircraft, its interior, and the passengers on board to ensure a balanced and safe flight. They may rely on average weights provided by aviation authorities, usually around 88kg, or gather their own data.

What are your views? How would you feel if you were asked to jump on the baggage scales before departure?